Remembering the past can bring a new awareness to
the present. Memories can be explored in many
creative ways that place value on a person’s unique
life experience. It can be very helpful at the right
moment to say to someone, “Tell me about your
childhood,” or ask, “What was it like growing up
during the Depression?” Triggers are often used to
evoke a memory and are especially useful when
working with people who have dementia. The best
triggers are those that stimulate our five senses:
taste (grandmother’s recipes), smell (aroma of fresh
baked bread), touch (textures), sound (music) and
sight (photographs). Movements such as those
associated with previous work experiences, dance or
family rituals can also bring back memories.
Reminiscence themes and activities can provide
opportunities for social interaction around shared
experiences. Examples of themes may include: the
childhood home and family, life on the farm, school
days, games/activities, fishing and hunting,
courtship and marriage, jobs, war years, holiday
celebrations and festivals.

Creative memory-making brings memories back to
life and can be achieved in a number of ways. Some
of the most effective ideas are:

photo albums/collages, scrapbooks

art forms (drawing, painting or using clay
can be a replacement for words)

All of these creations can generate
conversations, valuable recollections and outcomes
for the family and the generations that follow.

Reminiscence and Caregiving:

For many family caregivers, life may shift,
causing communication and relationships to change.
Caregivers of older adults often feel isolated and
even overwhelmed with establishing new or different
connections with their loved one. Encouraging
reminiscence can offer a number of benefits. It
provides companionship and helps to overcome the
problem of boredom. It improves self-esteem and
helps a person to feel recognized as an individual.
Since people often remain alone with their memories
unless they are tapped, this is an opportune time
for caregivers to use reminiscing as a tool to
promote communication, encourage self-expression and
recollect valuable memories. Ultimately, reminiscing
can be a very pleasurable experience for both the
caregiver and the person receiving care.

Although no formal qualifications are required to
do reminiscence work, the following skills are
beneficial, especially with people with dementia:

Ask open-ended questions that will elicit
the sharing of personal stories and experiences

Listen attentively and show an interest in
the past memories that are shared

Retain what you have heard and make
reflective comments

Empathize and relate in a sensitive way,
especially when painful emotions are expressed

Stimulate the senses and respond positively
to both verbal and non-verbal attempts to
communicate